Alleged Drunk Driver Strikes Residence

OCEAN CITY — A Pennsylvania man was arrested on drunk-driving and numerous other traffic charges last Sunday after allegedly crashing his vehicle through an iron fence and striking a residence on Coastal Highway.

Around 7:30 p.m. last Sunday, Ocean City Police responded to 90th Street and Coastal Highway for a reported vehicle collision. When officers arrived on the scene they observed a 2002 BMW had crashed through an iron fence and struck a residence.

The investigation revealed the driver, later identified as Charles Allen Fogel, 29, of Bethlehem, Pa., was traveling north on Coastal Highway when he attempted to turn south. During the turn, Fogel allegedly ran over the curb and struck a metal fence before striking the brick porch of a residence.

The force of the collision stopped the vehicle. Fogel, who was not injured in the accident, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while impaired, negligent driving, failure to obey a traffic control device, making an improper turn and driving on a sidewalk among others. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and later released on his own recognizance.

Two More Arrests In
Two-Year-Old Burglary

OCEAN CITY — Ocean City Police this week arrested two more suspects wanted in connection with a burglary at a resort residence dating back to June 2010, bringing the total number to four.

On June 30, 2010, OCPD officers responded to a reported burglary at a residence on Island Edge Drive. The investigation revealed the suspects had gained entry to the residence through the garage and had stolen a 42-inch flat screen television, a DVD player and various pieces of jewelry totaling over $1,000. The estimated total value of the items stolen, including the television and the jewelry came to over $2,000. The scene was processed for evidence and no suspects were immediately identified.

In November 2011, An OCPD detective received a tip from an anonymous source that as many as five people were involved in the break-in including Wesley Francis, 21, of Thurmont, Md., Nicholas McClain, 19, of Middletown, Md., Todd Rewolinski, 19, of Frederick, Md. and Kyle Tharpe, 19, of Middle River, along with a female suspect. The investigation revealed the five suspects were staying at a place in Sunset Island in June 2010 and that they had been kicked out for an unknown reason.

Because the suspects didn’t have any money, they came up with the idea to break into an unoccupied neighboring residence, according to police reports. The investigation revealed the suspects broke into the residence and took the television and other goods and loaded the stolen property into a pick-up truck owned by Francis. In December 2011, OCPD detectives traveled to Thurmont to interview Francis and observed a white pick-up matching the description parked in the driveway.

Francis, who is deaf, told OCPD officers through an interpreter he was had been involved in the June 2010 burglary in Ocean City. Francis told police he entered the residence with Rewolinski, Tharpe and McClain and that he backed his truck up to the garage before entering the house. Francis told police the four men then loaded the television into his truck and that he later dropped Rewolinski off at another residence with the television. Francis was formally charged with first-degree burglary, theft and malicious destruction of property in January and now awaits a May trial date.

Also in December 2011, OCPD detectives interviewed McClain, also deaf, who admitted his part in the burglary. McClain said he and the other suspects got into the house through the garage and stole the television and other goods. McClain was also charged in January with first-degree burglary and other charges for his role in the break-in. In February, McClain pleaded guilty to fourth-degree burglary and awaits sentencing.

Based on the information provided by Francis, McClain and a female suspect who has not been charged, Ocean City Police this week formally charged Rewolinski and Tharpe with first-degree burglary, theft and malicious destruction of property. Both were arrested on Monday and later released on their own recognizance after initial appearances.

Burglar Turns Self In

OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City man last week walked into police headquarters and turned himself in for a pair of first-degree burglaries he committed allegedly with his roommate when the resort was evacuated late last August because of Hurricane Irene.

Last Aug. 28, Ocean City Police responded to a residence on 75th Street for a reported burglary that had occurred sometime a few days earlier when the occupants had been mandatorily evacuated because of the pending threat of Hurricane Irene. The victims reported three surfboards had been stolen from the residence sometime between August 26 and August 28 when they evacuated because of Irene. The investigation revealed a window air conditioner near the front door had been pushed out and there was evidence of surf wax on the railing just outside the window where the suspect allegedly entered and exited the apartment.

A day later, on Aug. 29, a burglary was reported at another residence nearby on 75th Street. Again, the victims reported they had evacuated as ordered because of the pending storm and when they returned a couple days later, they found their residence had been broken into a large television had been stolen.

In mid-September, detectives met again with the victim in the second reported break-in, who told police a resident at one of the nearby cottages, identified as Matthew Kramer, 24, of Westminster, had been going around during the storm checking for residents who had not evacuated as ordered. Kramer reportedly told those residents who did not evacuate that he had been asked by the landlord to see which tenants were riding out the storm. However, the property manager told police no one had been asked to check who stayed and who evacuated.

The investigation revealed Kramer was likely doing a reconnaissance mission around the cottages during the storm to see who had stayed and who had left. Armed with the information about which cottages were vacant, Kramer and his roommate, later identified as Derek Watkins, 20, of Ocean City, allegedly committed the burglaries at the two vacant cottages.

Kramer was arrested in November and charged with two counts each of first-degree burglary and theft. Last week, Watkins walked into OCPD headquarters and turned himself in for his role in the burglaries last August. He also has been charged with first-degree burglary and theft. Watkins told police he and Kramer had committed the burglaries at the cottages unoccupied during the storm and corroborated the stories of the victims about the surfboards, the large television and the other goods that were stolen.

Shots Fired, Gun Tossed In River

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was arrested on assault and weapons charges on Wednesday after allegedly firing a handgun in the air while arguing with a female and later tossing the weapon into the Wicomico River.

Shortly after 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Salisbury Police responded to the area of Isabella and Lake Streets for a report of a male suspect firing a handgun in the air near a female individual with whom he was arguing. Another witness reported the same suspect walking with a handgun tucked in the waist of his pants along Isabella Street near the North Prong Bridge.

The suspect, later identified as Dezohnn Cromone Scott, 32, of Salisbury, was detained for questioning, but no weapon was found on his person. Police believe Scott was able to toss the handgun into the North Prong of the Wicomico River before officers detained him. The Salisbury Fire Department Underwater Recovery Unit was contacted to search for the gun and was on the scene late Wednesday. Meanwhile, Scott was arrested and charged with assault and state and city handgun violations.

Alleged Armed Robber Nabbed

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was arrested on armed robbery charges last week after a victim was able to identify him in a photo line-up of suspects.

Around 4:20 p.m. on March 24, a suspect entered Bradley’s Market on Lake Street, approached the clerk and demanded money. The suspect allegedly kept his hand in his coat pocket to indicate he was carrying a gun and the clerk handed over an undetermined amount of money as ordered. The suspect then fled the store on foot and the clerk was not injured.

During the investigation, detectives were able to identify Tracey Michael Rodwell, 40, of Salisbury, as a suspect and presented a photo line-up of possible suspects to the victim, who identified Rodwell as the alleged robber. Rodwell was arrested at his home last Friday without incident and was charged with armed robbery and theft.

Two Sentenced In Armed Robbery

SNOW HILL — Two Berlin men arrested in Ocean City in August after police connected them to an armed robbery were sentenced last week to significant amounts of jail time for their parts in the drug deal gone bad.

On Aug. 17, OCPD was flagged down by the victim of an assault in the area of Jamestown Rd. OCPD officers observed the victim was bleeding from an open wound on the right side of his face. During the on-scene investigation, detectives learned earlier in the evening on Aug. 17, the victim met the suspects, later identified as Travis Jermaine Farmer, 27, and Paul Kevin Hudson, Jr., 23, both of Berlin, and agreed to meet them later to purchase marijuana.

Farmer and Hudson met the victim at his residence and subsequently attacked the victim. During the assault, one of the suspect’s slashed the victim with a kitchen knife. The victim suffered a laceration to the right side of his face along with several other injuries as a result of the assault. According to police reports, the suspects stole a large amount of money from the victim before fleeing his residence.

OCPD detectives were able to link Farmer and Hudson to the assault and obtained arrest warrants, charging both with armed robbery, robbery, first- and second-degree assault and felony theft. In January, Farmer was found guilty of armed robbery and numerous other counts and a pre-sentence investigation was ordered. Back in court last week, Farmer was sentenced to 12 years in jail with half, or six years, suspended. He was also ordered to pay $1,800 in restitution to the victim. Hudson appeared in Circuit Court last week and was found guilty of second-degree assault and was sentenced to four years in jail and fined $500.

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